Volleyball ready for their Sunflower Showdown

Kansas State's volleyball team enjoyed an off-Wednesday last week to "rest and get healthy," according to coach Suzie Fri

Times Sports Report

Kansas State's volleyball team enjoyed an off-Wednesday last week to "rest and get healthy," according to coach Suzie Fritz.

The team responded with a three-set sweep at TCU on Saturday, and now will travel to Kansas for a 6:30 p.m., first serve tonight.

With a Big 12 record of 4-2 and overall mark of 17-2, the No. 14 ranked Wildcats will face the surprise team in the league as Kansas, picked sixth in the preseason poll, owns a 5-1 league mark and 17-3 overall record heading into the match.

With the Jayhawks now ranked No. 21, it will mark the first time that this rivalry will have ever been played with both teams ranked.

"The week off last week was good for us," said Fritz. "We're really trying to stay process based and become that team that becomes better in October and November. We strongly feel if you can improve in that manner, then you can be one of the teams that can win in December."

And, Fritz added that it gave her club a chance to improve during practices.

"Playing two matches a week every week leaves little time to fix things," said Fritz. "I hope we've learned some things from the losses we've suffered (at OU and Texas), but the question is, can you fix those things in the amount of time that you have?"

WHAT THE STATS SAY:

Kansas State ranks second in the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.270), kills (14.19) and assists (13.44). The Wildcats are third in service aces (1.34), fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.170), and sixth in digs (14.63).

Individually, Kaitlynn Pelger is second in the league in kills (3.92) and points (4.79), third in the league in hitting (.363) and sixth in service aces (0.36).

Caitlyn Donahue is second in assists (11.86), Alex Muff is second in blocks (1.46), Lilla Porubek is eighth in kills (3.07) and Kuulei Kabalis is seventh in points (3.56) and ninth in digs (3.15).

Kansas State's homecoming football game with Texas Tech on Oct. 27 will be the FOX College Football Game of the Week. The game will start at 2:30 p.m.

While the homecoming matchup with the 17th-ranked Red Raiders has been announced as a sellout, a limited number of general admission tickets to the game have been made available for purchase.

Those tickets, priced at $55, will be located on the grassy hill in the northeast corner of the stadium and may be purchased online at kstatesports.com, or via phone at 1-800-221-CATS while quantities last.

RUNNERS SHINE AT PRE-NATIONALS:

Kansas State's cross country runners competed in the Pre-National meet last weekend with the men finishing 20th and the women 27th.

Top runners for the women were Laura Galvan, Erica Schiller and Mary Frances Donnelly, who ran 36th (20:52.6), 76th (21:23.5) and 139th (21:52.1) respectively, with each time being a personal record for the 6K distance.

For the men, Fernando Roman led K-State with a time of 25:31.4. That was good for a 71st place finish.